Research Letter

The nonribosomal peptide and polyketide synthetic gene clusters in two strains of entomopathogenic fungi in Cordyceps

  1. Wen-Jing Wang1,2,3,
  2. Heiko Vogel4,
  3. Yi-Jian Yao1,*,
  4. Liyan Ping2,*

Article first published online: 18 SEP 2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2012.02658.x

Issue

FEMS Microbiology Letters

FEMS Microbiology Letters

Volume 336, Issue 2, pages 89–97, November 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Wang, W.-J., Vogel, H., Yao, Y.-J. and Ping, L. (2012), The nonribosomal peptide and polyketide synthetic gene clusters in two strains of entomopathogenic fungi in Cordyceps. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 336: 89–97. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2012.02658.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

  2. 2

    Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany

  3. 3

    Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

  4. 4

    Department of Entomology, Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany

*Correspondence: Yi-Jian Yao, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, PO Box 2714, Beijing 100101, China. Tel.: + 86 10 64807496; fax: + 86 10 64807518; e-mail: yaoyj@im.ac.cn

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 OCT 2012
  2. Article first published online: 18 SEP 2012
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 13 AUG 2012 07:32AM EST
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 7 AUG 2012
  5. Manuscript Revised: 1 JUN 2012
  6. Manuscript Received: 20 APR 2012

Funded by

  • MPG-CAS Joint Doctoral Promotion Program (DPP)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China. Grant Number: 31170017

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Keywords:

  • nonribosomal peptide synthetase;
  • polyketide synthetase;
  • phylogeny;
  • Cordyceps

Abstract

Species of Cordyceps Fr. are entomopathogenic fungi that parasitize the larvae or pupae of lepidopteran insects. The secondary metabolites, nonribosomal peptides and polyketides are well-known mediators of pathogenesis. The biosynthetic gene clusters of these compounds in two fungal strains (1630 and DSM 1153) formerly known as Cordyceps militaris were screened using polymerase chain reaction with degenerate primers. Two nonribosomal peptide synthetase genes, one polyketide synthetase gene and one hybrid gene cluster were identified, and certain characteristics of the structures of their potential products were predicted. All four genes were actively expressed under laboratory conditions but at markedly different levels. The gene clusters from the two fungal strains were structurally and functionally unrelated, suggesting different evolutionary origins and physiological functions. Phylogenetic and biochemical analyses confirmed that the two fungal strains are not conspecific as currently assigned.

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